Megalithic Portal: Latest from Japan

Tokyo National Museum

Anne T — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 19:38:29 GMT

]]>A Dogū from the Jōmon period, (1000–400) BCE, excavated in Kawane-Honchō Town, Shizuoka. The museum is considered the oldest national museum in Japan and collects, preserves, and displays a comprehensive collection of artwork and cultural objects from Asia, with a focus on ancient and medieval Japanese art and Asian art along the Silk Road. There is also a large collection of Greco-Buddhist art.

Yasaka Shrine

Anne T — Tue, 02 Jun 2026 08:16:55 GMT

]]> in Japan

Gotobiki Rock

Anne T — Sat, 30 May 2026 08:01:36 GMT

]]>Ancient Temple in Japan

Masuda-no-Iwafune

Aska — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 09:47:03 GMT

]]>A huge (11m × 8m × 5m high) rock on a hill with square chambers on the top and traces of chiseling or scraping below.　The purpose is unknown, but has some similarities with Ishi-no-Hōden (huge rock with a concave band) in Hyōgo prefecture and Kengoshi-zuka Kofun tumulus (2 chambers in 1 rock) just 500m away. More details of these on our pages.

Kōsei-ji temple

Aska — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:52:50 GMT

]]>Modern Stone Circle etc in Honshū

Donke-in temple

Aska — Sat, 31 Jan 2026 09:51:19 GMT

]]>Modern Stone Circle etc in Honshū

Ishidōnī

Aska — Mon, 25 Nov 2024 21:23:04 GMT

]]>A drought was one of the severest disasters on the Okinawan islands, along with frequent typhoons. The Kume-jima islanders’ legend tells that during a long drought, a cow ran away into a wood then the farmer found the cow drinking the water in the hole of this stone. Following this the islanders offered prayers for rainfall here and they were rewarded.

Heijō-kyō Palace garden ruin (eastern garden)

Aska — Tue, 05 Nov 2024 17:21:12 GMT

]]>In 710 CE, the Japanese capital was moved to Heijō-kyō (present day Nara) from southern Asuka district. The palace adopted the grid system of the city of Chang’an of the Chinese Tang dynasty. Then the emperors of Heijō-kyō palace were annoyed by the growing force of the Buddhist priests in the new capital who came to be the independent military power.

Hogetto talc pot factory

Aska — Mon, 06 May 2024 07:29:23 GMT

Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry in Kyūshū

Kombu-in temple

Aska — Mon, 06 May 2024 07:20:59 GMT

]]>Modern Stone Circle etc in Honshū

Imashirozuka Kofun

Aska — Wed, 01 May 2024 10:35:45 GMT

]]>A keyhole-shaped barrow located in between Kyoto and Osaka. 190m long, reconstructed in 2011 with tube, house, animal and human-shaped haniwas, and an attached museum with free admission.

Zuikō-in temple

Aska — Wed, 01 May 2024 08:53:50 GMT

]]>Modern Stone Circle etc in Honshū

Ryokuju-in temple

Aska — Wed, 01 May 2024 08:52:16 GMT

]]>Modern Stone Circle etc in Honshū

Hegura-jima island

Aska — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 12:46:09 GMT

]]>Hegura-jima island is situated 50km northbound from Wajima port in the Sea of Japan (Koreans call it the East Sea). It is only 2km in length and 25m maximum altitude. Once there were 70 cairns on this flat island, now only a few of them remain in seven areas, we have photos:

Ishibotokeyama

Aska — Sun, 10 Mar 2024 15:14:59 GMT

]]>Three groups of stone setting on a slope in a mystic wood on Honshū island. A ritual is still carried out at this site at the beginning of March, women are prohibited to enter the sacred wood.